BOLTON 0 - SAINTS 0

The Nigerian provided delightful doses of invention, flair, and unpredictability to a match that might otherwise have sent even a watching battery hen into a deep sleep.

In short, Okocha's contribution to Saints' 0-0 draw with Bolton summed up everything Gordon Strachan's men currently lack.

Bolton had the chances, possession and, in Okocha, the creativity to justifiably feel they should have won the match - but not for the first time, Saints were rescued by their back four and Antti Niemi.

Indeed, given the pattern of the game and the late dismissal of Michael Svensson, Saints did well to leave Bolton with a point after their fourth nil-nil draw in only 12 Premiership matches this season.

But it certainly should not all be doom and gloom.

Saints can justifiably be proud of a defensive record which provided the base for last season's successes and which continues to keep them in the top half of the table this campaign.

Yet going forward, Strachan and his team seem no closer to finding ways of consistently breaking oppositions down without putting at risk those qualities.

For the moment, Saints look like they are banging their heads against a brick wall and against Sam Allardyce's men they again chipped away with complete predictability.

Throughout most of the first half, though, Saints found themselves without possession, as Bolton started out confidently and controlled the tempo of the game.

Ivan Campo was conducting things as he sat just in front of the back four and displayed his full range of passing, while Okocha was pulling the strings further forward as midfielders Stelios and Per Frandsen dominated Rory Delap and Anders Svensson.

But while the ice-cool Niemi may not have the flamboyance of a red-hot Okocha, the unflappable Finn proved just as effective for Saints.

His command of the area and calming influence were evident throughout and he also made a series of important stops from Okocha.

The first on 14 minutes went low to his left and the second, from a free-kick midway through the first half, was quite breathtaking as he clawed the ball away from just under his bar.

Niemi again had to be alert in the second half when the Wanderers playmaker cut in from the right and forced a good diving save.

But as much as you might have wished it, Saturday was not only the Niemi/Okocha show.

Saints had their best chance just before the break when Chris Marsden crossed to Paul Telfer in space, but his effort was deflected wide.

Then, just before the hour mark, Kevin Phillips had two decent chances in as many minutes as Saints briefly pressured Jussi Jaaskelainen's goal with their only real period of pressure.

First Phillips got on the end of Telfer's quick free-kick, but had his effort pushed past the post and then from the resulting corner he went agonisingly close to getting on the end of Delap's knock-down from six-yards out.

For Bolton, Mario Jardel, who replaced Kevin Davies, was put through in the closing minutes but blasted over.

Then came the incident on 86 minutes which provided the game's main talking point.

Amid jostling for position at a free-kick, Jardel pushed Graeme Le Saux and appeared to wrestle him to the ground.

Svensson intervened and gently pushed the Brazilian - nicknamed Lardel because of his heavyweight physique - who collapsed to the floor.

After consultation with his assistant, referee Howad Webb inevitably booked both - meaning a second yellow and a sending-off for Svensson.

Manager Strachan found the incident laughable and remained understandably more concerned with his team's performance.

He needs to find a way of freshening up a midfield that looked stale and which collectively put in one of its worst performances for more than a year.

The likes of Brett Ormerod, Leandre Griffit, David Prutton, Neil McCann, Fabrice Fernandes and Jo Tessem were all left out on Saturday, while Matthew Oakley is hopeful of returning to training this week from his knee injury.

But how Strachan would surely love to have the option of Okocha - a player whose contract with Bolton runs out at the end of the season.

Forget more workmen, right now Saints need to find a master craftsman.